Ben Haim set for Blues

14 June 2007 10:57

Chelsea are poised to land Tal Ben Haim and beat Newcastle United to the signature of the Bolton Wanderers defender.
Ben Haim, 25, is back in his native Israel ahead of his weekend wedding but Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon reportedly flew out on Wednesday to finalise the deal.
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce was hoping to re-sign his out-of-contract former defender following his move to St James' Park from Bolton Wanderers last month.
However, Ben Haim now looks to have chosen Chelsea, who were also linked with a raid on the Reebok Stadium during last January's transfer window.
"Ben Haim will arrive, we will discuss his contract and finalise the last details and we hope that he will sign the contract by tomorrow," Kenyon told The Guardian.
Ben Ham will become the third player after Reading's Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich to arrive at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer so far this summer.
Meanwhile, further reports suggest Ben Ham's fellow countryman Avram Grant will also join the Blues.
The former Israel national manager is currently technical director at Portsmouth.